Syrian President Discusses Refugee Return with UN Official

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Monday with Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, to discuss how to rally efforts to support early recovery projects related to the return of Syrian refugees and their requirements. Both sides emphasized the need to keep the refugee return issue within its humanitarian and ethical framework. They affirmed that the safe return of refugees is the Syrian state's ultimate goal, but it is linked to providing the necessary requirements for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in the villages and cities to which they will return, rehabilitating various service facilities, and implementing essential early recovery projects for their return. President Assad noted that Syrian state institutions have taken numerous measures to facilitate the return of refugees and are working to ensure support for their stability upon their return within available resources. Griffiths presented the President with the international organization's action plan for the upcoming phase to support early recovery projects in Syria and to mobilize efforts to help secure the appropriate conditions for the return of refugees.